Like so many of you, I LOVE marble. It is one of the oldest and most beautiful stones on the market for countertops, and its popularity began in ancient Rome and Greece where marble was used to construct everything from sculptures to massive pillars. Its timeless and unique beauty seemed to be an obvious choice for our bathrooms, but unfortunately, I have bathroom marble regrets.
*If you are determined to have marble in your bathroom, I share ways to maintain your marble and ways to remove stains from your marble towards the bottom of this post.
All of the bathrooms in our home were very outdated, and due to a major leak, our master bath was our first major home remodel.
We remodeled this space over four years ago, and you can see more details on the renovation HERE. We found our vanities online, and they came with beautiful marble countertops.
In the last year, an orange stain has begun around one of the faucet handles and continues to grow. I have tried all kinds of online remedies (see 5 Ways to Remove Stains from Marble at the end of this post). This staining can happen because white marble often contains small deposits of iron. If the marble becomes wet long enough to allow moisture to leach through the marble, the iron deposits will oxidize creating yellow/orange/brown stains.
Obviously, there is a leak around the faucet handle, and unfortunately, we haven’t had any success trying to fix the leak – or the stain.
We added marble to our shower as well – on the ledge and the shower door threshold. It has held up really well, and I do wonder if it is because we purchased the marble from a local custom stone shop. It is MUCH thicker than the marble that came on the vanities.
Because we remodeled all of our bathrooms within a few years of each other, I kept adding marble countertops since I wasn’t having any problems. I added it to my daughter’s bathroom, and although her stone doesn’t have the orange staining, the stone has begun to fog up around the faucets and sink area.
I also added a marble vanity top to my boys’ bathroom.
This time we’re seeing the stone darken around the faucet and sink area.
However, if you are determined to have marble countertops in your bathroom (or kitchen), there are ways to avoid my mistakes and keep your marble beautiful.
How to Maintain Beautiful Marble:
1. Clean immediately
Stains are going to happen, and it is important to maintain marble by cleaning up any stains that happen as quickly as possible. At the end of this post, I share 5 ways to remove stains from marble.
2. Use Marble Polish
To get shine, you need to incorporate marble polish into your cleaning process. Simply wait for the marble to dry after cleaning and then apply marble polish to the surface.
3. Use Sealer
Once a month, in order to reduce stains and etching, you should use a sealer on your marble. This keeps stains from penetrating your marble and staining. By doing this, you’re effectively maintaining your marble by giving it its own shield for protection. Most people report this effectively keeps stains from seeping into the marble and permanently damaging it. *Let’s be honest though, who has time to do this once a month?
5 Ways to Remove Stains from Marble:
Unfortunately, these methods didn’t work for me, but hopefully, you find success with them!
Rubbing Alcohol
If your marble has a light stain, mix a few drops of dish soap, 1/8-cup of rubbing alcohol, and water. Pour in a spray bottle and spray on the surface. It will remove light stains and add shine to your counter.
Corn Starch
If the stain has set in, use a spray bottle with distilled water to spray the spot. Cover the wet stain with a solid layer of cornstarch and allow it to sit for at least 24 hours. Repeat the process as necessary. If the grease stains your counter, use the cornstarch immediately using a mild soap and water to clean the spot after 15 minutes.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Cut a piece of gauze the size of the stain and saturate it with hydrogen peroxide. Place the pad on the stain and seal it with plastic wrap and tape. Add a weighted object on the gauze to add pressure and let it sit for at least 24 hours. If the stain is not completely gone, repeat the process. If you have dark-colored marble, test this method in an inconspicuous location as the peroxide could lighten the marble significantly.
Baking Soda
Create a paste using baking soda and water. Spray the spill with water and then apply the paste. Cover with plastic wrap for at least 24 hours, allowing the baking soda to dry. This should pull up the stain but the process may need repeating.
Liquid Soap And Flour
Place a cup of unbleached flour in a bowl and add three tablespoons of mild liquid soap. Add some water to make a thick paste. Add the paste to the stain and cover with plastic wrap for 24 hours to lift the stain and then wash with soapy water.
Go create something!
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